The Miles M.18 was a single-engine twin-seat low-winged light British civil utility aircraft of the 1930s.

Development

The Miles M.18 was a series of three slightly different prototype aircraft.

Variants

The M.18 Mk.1 was a two-seat tandem training aircraft, powered by a 130 h.p.

de Havilland Gipsy Major The de Havilland Gipsy Major or Gipsy IIIA is a four-cylinder, air-cooled, inverted inline engine used in a variety of light aircraft produced in the 1930s, including the famous Tiger Moth biplane. Many Gipsy Major engines still power vintag ...

which was first flown on 4 December 1938 from

Woodley Aerodrome Woodley is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Wokingham, Berkshire, England, east of Reading and joined to the neighbouring town of Earley, to the west, and from Wokingham. Nearby are the villages of Sonning, Twyford, Winnersh, Hur ...

near Reading by

F.G. Miles Frederick George Miles (22 March 1903 – 15 August 1976) was a British aircraft designer and manufacturer who designed numerous light civil and military aircraft and a range of prototypes. The name "Miles" is associated with two distinct compan ...

. The sole example ''G-AFRO'' was converted to a single seater in 1941, with a fixed

tricycle undercarriage Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle ...

and with the fin and rudder moved forward by 22 in. It later reverted to a tail wheel undercarriage layout and flew during 1946-1947 with its span reduced from 31 ft 0 in to 22 ft 0 in and a 110 h.p. Jameson FF engine was installed. It was scrapped in December 1947. MM18

The M.18 Mk.2 had the fin and rudder moved forward by 22 in and was fitted with a 150 h.p.

Blackburn Cirrus Major The Blackburn Cirrus Major is a British, inline-four aircraft engine that was developed in the late 1930s. Design and development The Blackburn Cirrus Major started life as a continued evolution of the original Cirrus and Hermes series of air ...

III. The sole example, serial ''HM545'', first flew at Woodley in November 1939. It was evaluated by the Air Ministry as a possible replacement for the

Miles Magister The Miles M.14 Magister is a two-seat monoplane basic trainer aircraft designed and built by the British aircraft manufacturer Miles Aircraft. It was affectionately known as the ''Maggie''. It was authorised to perform aerobatics. The Magister ...

. According to test pilots, it handled better than the Magister, was impossible to spin and flew well at night. However the Mk.2 was regarded as lacking robustness. The Mk.2 was used through the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

as a communications aircraft by

Miles Aircraft Miles was the name used between 1943 and 1947 to market the aircraft of British engineer Frederick George Miles, who, with his wife – aviator and draughtswoman Maxine "Blossom" Miles (née Forbes-Robertson) – and his brother George Herber ...

. It was civilianised as ''G-AHKY'' and won the Goodyear Trophy air race in 1956 at 130 mph and the

Kings Cup Air Race The King's Cup air race is a British handicapped cross-country event, which has taken place annually since 1922. It is run by the Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association. The King's Cup is one of the most prestigious prizes of the ...

in 1961 at 142 mph.Jackson, 1974, p. 268 After ownership by several private pilots, it was retired in 1989 and from 1996 to date, the aircraft has been on display at the National Museum of Flight in Scotland. The M.18 Mk.3 was fitted with enclosed tandem cockpits and powered by one 150 h.p. Blackburn Cirrus III. The sole aircraft, ''U-0236'', first flew at Woodley in October 1942. It was used by Miles for wartime communications as ''JN703'', before civil sale as ''G-AHOA'' in 1946. It had two private owners before crashing at Littondale, Yorkshire on 25 May 1950.

Specifications (M.18 Mk.2)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * {{Miles aircraft 1930s British civil utility aircraft M.18 Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1938